In addition to your students’ Leaving Certificate points and HPAT score, some medical schools require (or ‘highly recommend’) studying specific subjects at high school. Every university has its own set of requirements, so you’ll need to thoroughly read and understand the admissions guidelines. While no set rule applies, you can expect most universities to require satisfactory marks in English, Mathematics, Irish, a third language and at least one Science subject.

Perhaps your students ask, “Is medicine right for me?” They probably already have the ability to score well in exams and gain admission to a medical school. But before they make one of the most important decisions of their life, they need to have a realistic idea of what to expect. Here are some things you could point out that they need:

Aptitude

The entry criteria for medicine are designed to ensure students possess the right qualities. Leaving Certificate points measure academic abilities and proficiency in core subjects. The HPAT tests cognitive and emotional reasoning skills, as well as the ability to perform under extreme pressure. These are all skills that doctors require.

Passion

Few people succeed in any career without passion. Yes, medicine is an incredibly interesting subject to study, but students also need a genuine interest. There’s no better way to develop students’ passion than to research the careers of medical practitioners and read about their journey. Our own Head of Education, Dr Ann Deely, shares some of her experiences and passion in our HPAT workshops.

Commitment

Students should be realistic about the commitment they’ll be making. Medicine is a career that involves lifelong learning. In addition to 5-6 years of university studies, it can take up to ten years to independently practice some forms of medicine. Then the real commitment begins. Most people understand the rewards but it’s difficult to get a realistic idea of the challenges of medicine. Being responsible for people’s health requires commitment and sacrifice.

Understanding

Before they make a decision to study medicine, we highly recommend that your students speak to as many practicing physicians as possible, read case studies, and carefully research the medical entry process.

Your students should already have an understanding of university requirements from the first step in their journey - choosing the right subjects. Now it’s time to apply. Your students should apply for undergraduate medicine via the CAO. The application deadline is normally at the start of February, but your students will need to have obtained a CAO number before they can apply to sit the HPAT, so it is advisable to apply early.

The CAO allows your students to enter up to ten Level 8 courses on their application form, so they have space to put all five Irish medical courses on their application. As the points required for entry to medicine vary from year to year, we recommend listing all the medical schools on their application in order to maximise their chances of success. Before applying, students should make sure they have the most up-to-date information by contacting the admissions officer of each course they're interested in.

Most students with their eye on a career in medicine understand the hard work, dedication and practice required to succeed in exams. They understand how to answer technical questions based on lessons and texts.

But the HPAT is nothing like the exams they’re accustomed to. That’s why many overconfident students who sit for the test unprepared not only fail the exam but also fail to finish it. The HPAT is designed by universities to find the students who possess specific mental abilities considered important in medicine. The unorthodox questioning and time pressure make it one of the most difficult obstacles on the path to a career in medicine.

You can learn more about HPAT from the following resources:

• Frequently Asked Questions about HPAT page
• Comprehensive Guide to HPAT
• HPAT Handbook: This comprehensive 70 page guide covers everything you need to know about entry into medicine in Ireland

They've navigated through the difficult application process including the HPAT and the Leaving Certificate. But now comes their ultimate decision: "which medical school should I put at the top of my CAO application?"

If they meet the entry requirements for the first medical school on their CAO application, they will not be offered a place on a course further down the list. Therefore, it is important to make sure their application is a true reflection of their preferences. Speaking to those closest to them including family and friends is always important but ultimately it is a very personal decision. There is a lot of misinformation out there, a classic one being that prestige or rank of the medical school is an important factor in career progression.

However, there are a number of important factors to consider including location, cost of living, internship placements, clinical placements, course structure, teaching style and student life. It's not an easy task, but we've prepared a comprehensive guide on how they can choose the right medical school.

Choosing Your Medical School: A Comprehensive Guide

Medicine requires the highest levels of due diligence by all governing bodies. That’s why it takes at least five additional years before being able to practice medicine independently. The early years of a graduate’s career are spent practicing medicine as an intern, Senior House Officer and finally, as a Registrar/SPR in their chosen area of specialty.

If your students are considering the daunting years of study, training and learning ahead of them, there’s plenty of upside. Few doctors will talk in anything less than glowing terms of their career in medicine. It’s a stressful and challenging career but one that offers unique benefits.

Medicine is intellectually stimulating, offers very high job security, an excellent salary and the experience of improving lives every day. It’s a life of constant learning, tight regulations, late nights, early mornings and personal sacrifices. But the number of students applying for medical schools each year is proof that medicine is, and will continue to be, one of the most desirable careers in Ireland.